[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23900-23901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6200]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042006A]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of applications to renew and to modify scientific 
permits; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application 
to modify an existing permit for scientific research from the Southwest 
Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) in Santa Cruz, California (1112). 
Notice is also given that NMFS has received applications to renew and 
modify permits for scientific research from Marin Municipal Water 
District (MMWD) in Corte Madera, California (1047), Campbell Timberland 
Management, LLC. (CTM) in Fort Bragg, California (1079), Salmon 
Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN) in Forest Knolls, California 
(1162), and Mendocino Redwood Company, LLC. (MRC) in Fort Bragg, 
California (1181). The permits would affect federally threatened 
Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, endangered 
Central California Coast coho salmon, threatened California Coastal 
Chinook salmon, endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, 
threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, threatened 
Northern California steelhead, threatened Central California Coast 
steelhead, and threatened Central Valley steelhead. This document 
serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit 
applications for review and comment.

DATES: Written comments on the permit applications must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on May 25, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments submitted by e-mail must be sent to the following 
address [email protected]. The applications and related documents 
are available for review by appointment, for permits 1112 Modification 
2, 1047 Modification 1, 1079 Modification 2, 1162 Modification 3, and 
1181 Modification 1: Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma 
Avenue, Room 315, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 (ph: 707-575-6097, fax: 707-578-
3435).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Jahn at phone number 707-575-
6097, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on 
a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) are applied for in good 
faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species 
which are the subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the 
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to 
take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits. 
Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject 
to the ESA and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife 
permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on an application listed in 
this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such a 
hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the permit 
action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of NMFS.

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to federally threatened Southern Oregon/
Northern California Coast coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), 
endangered Central California Coast coho salmon (O. kisutch), 
threatened California Coastal Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), 
endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), 
threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), 
threatened Northern California steelhead (O. mykiss), threatened 
Central California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss), and threatened Central 
Valley steelhead (O. mykiss).

Modification Requests Received

    SWFSC requests to modify a 5-year permit (1112) for take of adult 
and juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, Central California 
Coast steelhead, and Central Valley steelhead to conduct fish behavior, 
physiology, life history, population ecology, and population genetics 
research in various streams and estuaries in California. SWFSC requests 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of 400 adult 
Central California Coast coho salmon, 8,000 juvenile Central California 
Coast coho salmon, 50 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon 
(hatchery), 500 adult Central California Coast steelhead, 13,200 
juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, 50 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead (hatchery), 600 juvenile Central Valley 
steelhead, and 350 juvenile Central Valley steelhead (hatchery) with no 
more than 3% unintentional mortality to result from capture (by trawl, 
seine, fyke-net trap, hook and line, electrofishing, weir trap, or 
hand), handling, fin clipping, scale sampling, gill tissue sampling, 
tagging, and release of fish.
    SWFSC also requests intentional lethal take of juvenile Central 
California Coast coho salmon, Sacramento River winter-run Chinook 
salmon, Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, Central California 
Coast steelhead, and Central Valley steelhead to conduct fish 
physiology, life history, population ecology, and population genetics 
research in various streams, estuaries, and coastal waters of 
California. SWFSC requests authorization for an estimated annual lethal 
take of 60 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 110 juvenile 
Central California Coast coho salmon (hatchery), 50 juvenile Sacramento 
River winter-run Chinook salmon, 50 juvenile Central Valley spring-run 
Chinook salmon, 310 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, 150 
juvenile Central California Coast steelhead (hatchery), and 100 
juvenile Central Valley steelhead to be captured (by trawl, seine, 
fyke-net trap, or electrofishing), handled, transported, held in a 
laboratory, and sacrificed for collection of various tissues.
    SWFSC also requests take of previously dead adult carcasses of 
Central California Coast coho salmon and Central California Coast 
steelhead to collect population abundance, life history, and genetic 
information on spawning salmonids in various streams in California. 
SWFSC requests authorization to handle, tissue sample, and release an 
estimated 150 Central California Coast coho salmon adult carcasses and 
100 Central California Coast steelhead adult carcasses annually. SWFSC 
does not request any take of live adult salmonids for this study.
    In addition, SWFSC requests take of juvenile hatchery-produced 
Central California Coast coho salmon to conduct a captive rearing study 
and generate broodstock to be used in research and enhancement 
activities. SWFSC requests authorization for an estimated annual non-
lethal take of 150 juvenile hatchery-produced Central California Coast 
coho salmon, with no more than 3% unintentional mortality to result

[[Page 23901]]

from transport (from the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project 
Kingfisher Flat Hatchery), handling, and captive rearing of fish.

Renewal and Modification Requests Received

    MMWD requests to renew and modify a 5-year permit (1047) for take 
of juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon and Central California 
Coast steelhead to conduct fish population monitoring in Lagunitas and 
Walker Creek watersheds in Marin County, California. MMWD requests 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of 3,050 juvenile 
Central California Coast coho salmon and 5,300 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead, with no more than 5 percent unintentional 
mortality to result from capture by electrofishing, handling, fin 
clipping, and release of fish.
    MMWD also requests take of previously dead adult carcasses of 
Central California Coast coho salmon, California Coastal Chinook 
salmon, and Central California Coast steelhead to collect genetic 
information on spawning salmonids in Lagunitas and Walker Creek 
watersheds in Marin County, California. MMWD requests authorization to 
handle, tissue sample, and release an estimated 100 Central California 
Coast coho salmon adult carcasses, 20 California Coastal Chinook salmon 
adult carcasses, and 20 Central California Coast steelhead adult 
carcasses annually. MMWD does not request any take of live adult 
salmonids for this study.
    In addition, MMWD requests take of juvenile Central California 
Coast coho salmon, California Coastal Chinook salmon, and Central 
California Coast steelhead to conduct outmigration monitoring in 
Lagunitas Creek, Point Reyes Station, Marin County, California. MMWD 
requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of 
10,000 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 15,000 juvenile 
California Coastal Chinook salmon, and 3,400 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead with no more than 5 percent unintentional 
mortality to result from capture by rotary screw trap, handling, 
marking, and release of fish.
    CTM requests to renew and modify a 5-year permit (1079) for take of 
juvenile Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, Central 
California Coast coho salmon, and Northern California steelhead to 
conduct fish population monitoring in South Fork Eel River, Usal Creek, 
Dehaven Creek, Wages Creek, Abalobadiah Creek, Ten Mile River, Pudding 
Creek, Noyo River, Big River, Salmon Creek, and Garcia River watersheds 
in Mendocino County, California. CTM requests authorization for an 
estimated annual non-lethal take of 400 juvenile Southern Oregon/
Northern California Coast coho salmon, 2,600 juvenile Central 
California Coast coho salmon, and 4,000 juvenile Northern California 
steelhead, with no more than 2 percent unintentional mortality to 
result from capture by electrofishing, handling, and release of fish.
    SPAWN requests to renew and modify a 5-year permit (1162) for take 
of juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon and Central California 
Coast steelhead to conduct fish rescue and relocation efforts in 
intermittent tributaries of San Geronimo Creek in Marin County, 
California. SPAWN requests authorization for an estimated annual non-
lethal take of 2,500 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon and 
3,000 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, with no more than 
0.5 percent unintentional mortality to result from capture by dip net, 
handling, transport, and release of fish.
    SPAWN also requests take of previously dead adult carcasses of 
Central California Coast coho salmon, California Coastal Chinook 
salmon, and Central California Coast steelhead to collect genetic 
information on spawning salmonids in San Geronimo and Lagunitas Creek 
watersheds in Marin County, California. SPAWN requests authorization to 
handle, tissue sample, and release an estimated 50 Central California 
Coast coho salmon adult carcasses, 10 California Coastal Chinook salmon 
adult carcasses, and 20 Central California Coast steelhead adult 
carcasses annually. SPAWN does not request any take of live adult 
salmonids for this study.
    In addition, SPAWN requests take of juvenile Central California 
Coast coho salmon and Central California Coast steelhead to conduct 
migration monitoring in San Geronimo, Larsen, and Woodacre Creeks in 
Marin County, California. SPAWN requests authorization for an estimated 
annual non-lethal take of 5,000 juvenile Central California Coast coho 
salmon and 5,000 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead with no 
more than 2 percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by 
fyke-net trap or pipe trap), handling, marking, and release of fish.
    MRC requests to renew and modify a 5-year permit (1181) for take of 
juvenile Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, Central 
California Coast coho salmon, Northern California steelhead, and 
Central California Coast steelhead to conduct fish population 
monitoring in Hollow Tree Creek, Noyo River, Big River, Albion River, 
Navarro River, Greenwood Creek, Elk Creek, Garcia River, Gualala River, 
and Russian River watersheds in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, 
California as well as 9 other coastal streams in Mendocino County, 
California. MRC requests authorization for an estimated annual non-
lethal take of 1,000 juvenile Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast 
coho salmon, 1,000 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 3,000 
juvenile Northern California steelhead, and 200 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead, with no more than 3.5 percent unintentional 
mortality to result from capture by electrofishing, handling, and 
release of fish.
    MRC also requests take of previously dead adult carcasses of 
Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, Central 
California Coast coho salmon, California Coastal Chinook salmon, and 
Northern California steelhead to collect spawner abundance data in 
Hollow Tree Creek, Cottaneva Creek, Big River, Albion River, Navarro 
River, Elk Creek, and Garcia River watersheds in Mendocino County, 
California. MRC requests authorization to handle and release an 
estimated 500 Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon 
adult carcasses, 850 Central California Coast coho salmon adult 
carcasses, 100 California Coastal Chinook salmon adult carcasses, and 
200 Northern California steelhead adult carcasses annually. MRC does 
not request any take of live adult salmonids for this study.
    In addition, MRC requests take of juvenile Central California Coast 
coho salmon and Northern California steelhead to conduct outmigration 
monitoring in Little North Fork Navarro River in Mendocino County, 
California. MRC requests authorization for an estimated annual non-
lethal take of 4,500 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon and 
5,000 juvenile Northern California steelhead with no more than 2 
percent unintentional mortality to result from capture by rotary screw 
trap, handling, fin clipping, and release of fish.

    Dated: April 20, 2006.
Susan Pultz,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-6200 Filed 4-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S